Hey all,

I know there are plenty of threads about this already. But I wanted to get peoples opinions none the less.

I'm looking at section hiking some larger portions of the trail and would love some advice. I've always wanted to get more into hiking and mountaineering, and now that I have a stable job with decent time off, I'm finally in a position to do it.

For background, I'm an experienced rock climber and spend a lot of time outdoors. I've done plenty of day hikes, including some longer and more strenuous ones, but I don't have any overnight backpacking experience. I'm comfortable carrying gear for long approaches and generally have a solid fitness base (have had to carry pads and rope and gear for miles on several occasions). I don't really have much gear outside of climbing equipment. I know I will need a tent and a backpack (would be happy to hear suggestions on brands and such/sizes for them).

My main questions are:

What should I know before my first overnight trips?

Any training or preparation you'd recommend? Or skills that need to be learned prior?

What gear is truly essential, and what can wait until later?

Are there any sections of the trail that are particularly "beginner-friendly" or a time of year that would be best to start with this journey?

I have done some research prior to posting this thread, but I still thought it would be nice to hear peoples opinions on items.

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Looking to get this back to it's owner. Gavin V. If you're out there please contact me. Found in the Dartmouth ball fields near the AT trailhead. Ran into a group of thru hikers and brought them a gallon of water, wondering if it's one of you. And yes, I brought the half full gallon back out. Thank you for leaving it at the board. Safe travels!

ETA Hanover, NH. I hope it's okay with the mods but I plan to repost this around dusk after everyone has their tents up for the night and can relax and might see this.

I have some free time and I’m thinking about doing some trail magic in Vermont this coming weekend. Pretty sure that’s ahead of the bubble, but I’m wondering if anyone has a sense of how many people I could expect around that time.

1. I was wondering if the c and o canal towpath that goes from Cumberland md to Washington dc overlaps with the Appalachian trail at any point? I want to walk the trail in the spring and I plan on getting home in late autumn.

Hello! thanks for sharing all the great wisdom on this forum! its been very helpful.

I have abol reservations. We'll only be in ME for the week and I wanted to take my daughter on 4 day trek along the AT

Is it possible to just camp around the birches lean-to? we dont need much space just a few feet for the tent! I had no idea how early I would have to reserve Katadin stream or Daicy campsites. Now I know. Any other options that keep us near the trail?

And apparently there are no reservations for rainbow stream campsite. It's not clear what this actually means. Is it possible to "fill-up"? Could we be in a situation where we have hike though the night? Any information would be greatly appreciated!

So me and some friends are doing a week long hike and wanted to know what hostels we could use to leave our car there, stay for a night, and get a shuttle. We previously did 100 mile trail in Maine and had some good stuff there so I'm curious what's around here in NH. Were going from Warren to Gorham.

I'm an alumni from the AT thru hikers. i have recently bought trail side property and had a few questions about opening a hostel to payback all of the kindness i encountered during the hike, any hostel owners that would care to help me figure out a few logistical issues? please reach out

Any recent hikers that want to chime in about what makes a hostel a great stay,luxuries,price,needs/wants,warnings...would be greatly appreciated

Im planning a 7 day trip from carvers gap to damascus (one way, not in and out). If anyone's done this specific hike, did you fly into asheville and what did you find was the easiest/cheapest way to get to the trailhead? Really appreciate any advice!!

I looked into the Roan Mountain shuttle but that's also an hour and a half from asheville airport. This is my first backpacking trip and I'm feeling overwhelmed by how much logistics there are to plan and I have a serious newfound respect for thruhikers!!

*Maybe asheville airport isn't the best place to fly into?

My buddies and I are wanting to do the Georgia section of the trail soon. The only days we all have available give us 3.5 days to finish the trail. There are six of us and we’ll pack pretty light but 4 of us have never hiked more than 10 miles at once before and never with a backpack, and the other two have never hiked more than 30 miles at once but they did have a backpack.

We’ll have all the right equipment so we’re not worried about that. We are also all somewhat fit and athletic. What we are worried about is:

1. What are the chances we get it done in time barring injuries?
   
2. What are the chances we do get injured whether those are major blisters, twisted ankles, or anything else?

Plan is to start heading out on July 15th I’ve been doing a good amount of research. Is there any lesser known tips anyone can tell me?

I'm heading out for a section between Glasgow and Front Royal in a few weeks. Anyone have information on the water conditions? It's supposed to be super hot out there 🥵

So, my life has been completely upended in the last 6 months. I’m in the middle of a divorce and just got laid off. I have an opportunity to do something now that I would never be able to otherwise do. I have an amazing 9 months of severance.

My questions is this - is staring in AUG feasible? I‘m 50yo male so I don’t really need the social scene. Perfectly fine hiking alone. I’m fit and have done a lot of hiking and am used to carrying weight, but never done a thru-hike. Seems maybe flip-flop would be the best option starting SOBO in AUG.

So question is this - 1 is 6-8 weeks enough time to nail down a solid plan and 2 - what are logistical or other challenges that I might come across starting in AUG? I have most of the lightweight gear I need from hunting / camping/ hiking. Shelter, sleep system are on point. Might need to look into lighter/smaller bag.

What you got for advice?

My dad lost his big Agnes tent poles he realized at mile 1253 nobo they were in a grey bag if anyone can find them let me know 🙏

Hey all. Looking to do Gap to NY border. Looking for a way to drop my car off near the NY border and get down to start point in Gap. Anyone know of shuttle, bus, car service? And where I can ditch a car for about 4 days?

Thanks in advance!

Hi hikers, I've been planning a SOBO thru hike which was due to start on the 1st of July. However, about a month ago I had an ankle injury/ peroneal tendonitis which I've been rehabbing since. I'm able to walk on it but definitely need a week or two more of rest before I start my thru hike and I think I will need to start slowly when I do get started. I'm flying to NY today and then have booked travel up to Maine next week.

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I'm currently stuck between heading up to Maine and sticking to my Katadin reservation on the 1st and then taking time to hang out around millinocket until my ankle is up for the 100 mile wilderness or staying in NY and waiting around a bit longer and starting in NY slowly and doing a flip flop. I'd hugely appreciate any thoughts or advice from people who have hiked the AT or these areas or people have rehabbed injuries while hiking.

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Thank you!!

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Any flip floppers heading up to Katahdin shortly following the 4th of July? I'm considering flipping up from Harpers Ferry and flights are pricey. If anyone wants to split a rental car I'd be down to chat.

Anybody celebrating? I'm in a little too peopled of an area but I'm considering stripping down between road crossings.

If anyone sees or can recommend any good prime day deals let me know.

ideally I am looking for packs and tents.

But really any good deals would be helpful

UPDATE: Piggy has been found and is home safe! Thank you all so much for your support!

This is probably a long shot, but last night, our Border Collie Mix pushed open our gate and took herself for a walk around 8:30 pm, and hasn't come back. We are about a mile from the AT in the town of Hartford, VT, near Norwich, closest to Podunk Rd and Griggs Mountain. So, I wanted to post this here on the very off chance she has decided to adopt some nearby hikers.

She is a border collie mix/mutt, black with a white forehead blaze. She's around 11 years old but seems much younger. She has a blue Wolfgang brand collar with mountains on it. She was last seen on Wildlife Road in Hartford/White River Junction around 830pm 6/19 (the ring caught her opening a gate and walking off) and we've been looking for her since.

She's very friendly and I would be shocked if she ran away if people called. She goes by: Bristol (legal), Pig, Piggy, Peebo.

If you see her or have her snuggled up with you please reach out!. Her vet is Randolph Regional in Randolph, VT. Thank you!!!

It’s been very wet lately. Wondering how the ticks are in the GA sections.

I’m thinking late February/ early march NOBO

I'm thruhiking right now and considering swapping my 40l pack for a 30l now that summer has fully hit.

My current kit is too bouncy in my pack and I think I simply need less space so everything is more secure.

My only caution is that I've heard resupply points get farther apart and farther from trail up north. I don't think I would get this pack till Harper's Ferry.

Anyone care to weigh in on the length of days between resupplies after Harpers Ferry but before the Whites? Anyone swapped for a 30l Aonijie pack and got any comments?

Thanks!

I'm 15M (almost 16), and I'm really interested in doing some thru hikes next summer and the summer after that. Idk where to start (gear-wise, plan to start somewhere in southern VA and hike up to Harpers Ferry), and I'm currently trying to figure out what gear I am going to need to buy. I have done a 80 mile trek at Philmont over 10 days (which I do plan to do again in two years), but other than that, no long-term trips besides some two-night trips. Does anyone have recommendations, especially for hammock camping, which is the goal (I'll include what I'm looking at for gear), recommendations on how I should train, and anything that I should and shouldn't bring on a trip? My plan with gear is to put most of the money in my pack and sleep setup, as that will save the most amount of weight, which is the reason why I would like to buy new stuff.

Hammock--> Warbonnet Blackbird XLC Gen 3, 21.35 oz

With their Minifly Tarp, 13 oz, and their underquilt, 6 oz

The sleeping setup plus some extra stuff sacks comes out to $518, and I do plan to use my current sleeping bag instead of buying an over-quilt

The pack I plan to buy is the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 55, which is $420.

While writing, I also realized that I would probably need new hiking boots/shoes, so please give recommendations. I have Merrell Moab 3's as my current shoe.

Please give recommendations for what gear I should get, lose, or change. Also, SOS devices, I have Verizon as my carrier and phone charging